Secular groups took advantage of an open forum policy to display several messages in the rotunda of the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines last month.

After a Christmas tree was erected in the rotunda, the area around it was opened up to private groups for displays. Hemant Mehta of the “Friendly Atheist” blog reported that seven of the eight available slots for displays were claimed by secular groups.

Mehta reported that Justin Scott, the state director for Iowa for American Atheists, pulled together several secular groups in the state to offer displays.

“These displays represent a wide swath of Iowa: atheist and humanist, college-aged to the more experienced in life, queer and straight, transgender and/or nonbinary, Iowans of all backgrounds, races and socio-economic status, as well as from various parts of Iowa,” Scott said.

The displays included a sign from American Atheists that read “This season, no matter what you celebrate or why, Happy Holidays! – Your atheist neighbors.” Another sign from Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers said: “Joy to the world, reason has come!”

BREAKING NEWS

Americans United & the National Women’s Law Center file suit to challenge Missouri’s abortion bans.

Abortion bans violate the separation of church and state. Americans United and the National Women’s Law Center—the leading experts in religious freedom and gender justice—have joined forces with thirteen clergy from six faith traditions to challenge Missouri’s abortion bans as unconstitutionally imposing one narrow religious doctrine on everyone.


Join the Fight and Donate Today